Steve Bird s Wildlife BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS 5 Quarry Cottages Plymouth Devon UK 07780 965129 + 44 7780 965129 info@stevebirdswildlife.com Peninsular Malaysia Thursday 26th July Monday 6th August 2018 Spectacular birding in South East Asia Looking for the perfect destination to see an outstanding variety of Asian specialties then this trip is for you. We will be visiting the three most famous birding sites of this region, namely Kuala Selangor, Fraser s Hill, and Taman Negara. Each of these fabulous areas hold a mouthwatering list of sought after species. This area of South Asia is often referred to as the Malaysian Amazon simply because of the huge diversity of wildlife to be seen. From the coastal mangroves of Kuala Selangor to the forested trails of Fraser s Hill and Taman Negara we will be on the look out for an amazing variety of birds and some interesting mammals. Malaysia is a modern country with a high standard of living so you can expect good, comfortable accommodations throughout the tour. Some of the target species possible on this tour: Rail-Babbler Garnet Pitta Silver-breasted Broadbill Red-headed Trogon Blue-bearded Bee-Eater Green Magpie Black-and-yellow Broadbill Oriental Bay Owl Chestnut-naped Forktail Malayan Banded Pitta Rufous Piculet Great Argus Sultan Tit Hooded Pitta Rusty-naped Pitta Fire-tufted Barbet Malayan Whistling Thrush Black Hornbill Green Broadbill Diard s Trogon Malaysian Partridge Pygmy Cupwing Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Crested Fireback Malayan Peacock-Pheasant Black-thighed Falconet Bamboo Woodpecker Black-and-red Broadbill Scarletbacked Trogon Straw-headed Bulbul Silver-eared Mesia Malaysian Eared Nightjar Gold-whiskered Barbet Redthroated Sunbird Blue-banded Kingfisher Crested Jay Crested Partridge Banded Kingfisher Orange-breasted Trogon Gould s Frogmouth Reddish Scops-Owl Rhinoceros Hornbill - Maroon-breasted Philentomas plus many more!
ITINERARY: Start of Tour: If travelling from the US or UK you need to plan for an overnight flight that arrives in the morning of July 26 th at Kuala Lumpur. If you are flying from the UK then please contact my flight agent for quotes and routes available Chris or Neil at FBCT 01634 563186 Day 1: Wed 25th You should plan on an overnight flight to arrive in Kuala Lumpur Airport the following morning. Day 2: Thur 26th - Kuala Lumpur After arrival in Kuala Lumpur Airport we will have time in the afternoon to acquaint ourselves with some of the birds around this fascinating city. Overnight Around Kuala Lumpur (Lunch, Dinner) Day 3: Fri 27th - Kuala Selangor Today we head to Kuala Selangor for more birding. Close to the nearby Kuala Selangor Nature Park we will be able to search the mangroves and lagoons for a variety of interesting species that include Blue-throated Bee-eater, Black-capped and Collared Kingfishers, King Quail, Cinnamon and Yellow Bitterns, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Laced and Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers, Pin-tailed Snipe, White-headed Munia, Ruby-cheeked and Brown-throated Sunbirds, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Mangrove Whistler, Pied Triller, Olive-winged Bulbul, Ashy Tailorbird, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Olive-winged Bulbul, Lesser Coucal, Dollarbird and Pink-necked Green-Pigeon. Overnight Kuala Selangor (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Days 4-7: Sat 28th Tues 31st - Kuala Selangor Fraser s Hill This morning we will go in search of the elusive Mangrove Pitta and further chances to catch up with any species we missed yesterday. We will then set off the famous birding spot of Fraser s Hill. This former British hill station situated in the central Malay highlands offer outstanding opportunities to see a wide variety of very sought after species in what is undeniably one of Asia s top birding destinations. Over the next 4 days we will spend time on trails amongst mature forest that abound with numerous mixed feeding flocks of birds that include such species as Fire-tufted Barbet, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Spectacled, Malayan and Black Laughingthrushes, gorgeous Orange-breasted and Red-headed Trogons, huge Helmeted and Wreathed Hornbills, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Javan Cuckooshrike, Marbled Wrenbabbler, Large Niltava, the endemic Malayan Whistling-Thrush, Redbearded Bee-eater and the difficult Rusty-naped Pitta and Malaysian Partridge. Some of the common species include Streaked Spiderhunter, Black-throated Sunbird, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Sibia and the beautiful Silver-eared Mesia. With several days to explore this wonderful location we will be able to bird both the hills that rise to 1500m and the lowlands with a very different set of habitats. In the hills we can search for Red-headed Trogon, Greater and Lesser Yellownape, Greenbilled Malkoha, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Pygmy Cupwing, Lesser Shortwing, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Golden Babbler, Silver-breasted and Long-tailed Broadbills, Sultan Tit and Blue Nuthatch. There are possibilities for several mammals here including the Siamang a black hairy gibbon, as well as Banded Leaf-Monkeys. This is also a good are to see Malaysian Eared-Nightjar hawking the treetops at dusk for insects. Away from the hills we can explore lower areas around the
lodge and an area called The Gap where a huge variety of other tropical species are possible including Blyth's Hawkeagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Black-thighed Falconet, Mountain Imperial-pigeon, Yellow-vented Green-pigeon, Little Cuckoo-dove, Sunda Cuckoo, Collared Owlet, Glossy Swiftlet, Whiskered Treeswift, Speckled Piculet, Buff-rumped, Checker-throated, Bamboo and Bay Woodpeckers, Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Black-browed, Brown and Goldwhiskered Barbets, Banded, Black-and-yellow, Pale Blue, Hill Blue and Little Pied Flycatchers, White-tailed Robin, Grey-chinned Minivet, Ochraceous, Black-crested and Mountain Bulbuls, Greater and Lesser Racket-tailed Drongos, Sultan Tit, Streaked Wren-babbler, Large and Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babblers, Buff-breasted Babbler, Grey-throated and Golden Babblers, Silver-eared Mesia, Blue-winged Minla, Mountain Fulvetta, White-bellied Erpornis, Long-tailed Sibia, Slatybacked Forktail, Yellow-bellied and Mountain Leaf-warblers, Mountain Tailorbird, Everett's White-eye, Blackthroated Sunbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Streaked Spiderhunter and Green Magpie. Wow! That certainly seems enough to keep us busy. Overnight Fraser s Hill (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 8: Wed 01st - Fraser s Hill - Krau After our final birding at Fraser's Hill we will set off on the drive to the Krau Forest. Then heading to Bukit Tinggi and the Genting Valley we should find even more species. Today should give us our first chance of finding Black Hornbill, Blue-eared and Gold-whiskered Barbets, Garnet Pitta, Scarlet-backed Trogon, Black-andyellow Broadbill, and both Black-throated and Short-tailed Babblers Overnight Bukit Tinggi area (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Days 9-12: Thurs 02nd - Sun 05th - Krau Taman Negara After some early morning birding at Bukit Tinggi we will continue our journey to Taman Negara National Park where we will stay for the next 4 nights. Taman Negara National Park protects one of the oldest tropical rainforest in the world and is widely regarded as one of the best reserves in the whole of Asia. From our comfortable lodge surrounded by rainforest we will make daily excursions on the forest trails, returning for lunch each day. The birding here is simply fabulous and as there are no roads in the National Park we will be quietly birding on foot, or even by boat to reach areas that are less disturbed upriver. Birding the fruiting trees right around our comfortable lodge can attract an amazing variety of species with Puff-backed, Grey-bellied, Stripe-throated, Cream-vented, Redeyed, Spectacled, Grey-cheeked, Yellow-bellied, Hairy-backed, Streaked and the scarce Strawheaded Bulbul, as well as Little, Thick-billed and Large Green-pigeons, Gold-whiskered, Yellowcrowned, Red-throated, Blue-eared and Brown Barbets, the spectacular Green Broadbill, Green, Greater Green, Lesser Green and Blue-winged Leafbirds, Yellow-eared, Spectacled and Greybreasted Spiderhunters, Crimson-breasted and Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers, plus Red-throated and Purple-naped Sunbirds. Exploring the forested trails allows us to find a wealth of even more exciting birds that include Great Argus, Crested Partridge, Malayan Peacock-pheasant, Crested Fireback, Black-thighed Falconet, Jambu Fruit-dove, Long-tailed
Parakeet, Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot, Violet, Asian Drongo, Banded Bay and Plaintive Cuckoos, Raffles's, Black-bellied, Red-billed and Chestnut-breasted Malkohas, Red-naped, Diard's and Scarlet-rumped Trogons, Rufous Piculet, Crimson-winged, Checker-throated, Banded, Buff-rumped, Buff-necked, Great Slaty, White-bellied, Maroon and Orange-backed Woodpeckers, Banded, Rufous-collared, Rufous-backed and Bluebanded Kingfishers, Black and Rhinoceros Hornbills, Blue-winged, Hooded, Garnet and Malayan Banded Pittas, Black-and-Yellow, Blackand-Red, Green, Dusky and Banded Broadbills, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Rufous-tailed Shama, Dark-throated Oriole, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Rufous-winged and Maroon-breasted Philentomas, Black-capped, Grey-headed, Chestnut-rumped, Short-tailed, White-chested, Horsfield's and Ferruginous Babblers, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, White-crowned and Chestnut-naped Forktails, Dark-necked and Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds, Large Wren-babbler, Brown Fulvetta, Black Magpie and Crested Jay. And this is the place that with luck we could encounter the difficult Rail-Babbler. We must not forget to keep a look out overhead for Brownbacked and Silver-rumped Needletails, plus Grey-rumped and Whiskered Treeswifts. Once again night birding can be good with Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Oriental Bay Owl, Reddish Scops-Owl, and with luck we could find Large, Javan or even Gould's Frogmouth. There are a few mammals around Taman Negara, with possibilities of Giant Squirrel, Malay Civet, and the tiny Lesser Mouse-Deer and huge Sambar. Overnight Taman Negara (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Day 13: Mon 06th - Taman Negara Kuala Lumpur Morning Birding Taman Negara, before a noon transfer back to Kuala Lumpur airport in time for an evening departure. End.(Breakfast, Lunch) Leaders: Steve Bird and Gina Nichol with local guides throughout July 26 th 06 th Aug, 2018 Tour Price: 2550.00 Kuala Lumpur / Kuala Lumpur Single supplement: 445.00 Deposit: 500.00 per person Included in cost: all accommodation based on twin rooms en-suite, all meals from lunch on 26 th July to lunch on 06 th Aug, all entrance fees to National Parks, boat trips, transportation throughout, drinking water and services of leaders. Not included: International airfare, insurance, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature. Once the tour is confirmed to go ahead, we will send you information about booking your flights. Please do not book flights until you receive this information from us and are notified that the trip has sufficient numbers to run. Final payment is due April 26, 2018. This tour is being run through - Steve s Birds Wildlife Birding & Wildlife tours, 5 Quarry Cottages, Plymouth, Devon, UK Contact Steve Bird info@stevebirdswildlife.com for more information.
RESERVATIONS: Contact info@stevebirdswildlife.com to reserve your space! We will then send you a Registration Form which you can fill in and mail it with your deposit of 500.00 per person to Steve Bird, to secure your place. Instructions are on the form. Reservations are held with a deposit on a first-come, first-served basis. Check / Cheque or bank transfer are preferred and should be made payable to Steve Bird and mailed to 5 Quarry Cottages, Plymouth, Devon, UK Please note: Tour prices are based on quoted costs from ground operators (in their local currency), estimated fuel costs, and the rate of exchange at the time of itinerary publication. The erratic nature to global financial markets makes it difficult to predict changes in costs and foreign currency exchange rates over the long term. Since tours are priced well in advance of the actual operation of the tour, tour costs, fuel costs and exchange rates can change, sometimes drastically. Depending on the extent of such changes, it may be necessary to implement a surcharge on this tour. If a surcharge is necessary, every effort will be made to minimize the amount. Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing. In the event that you must cancel your booking at any stage, all payments you have made to Steve Bird will be retained by us, except at our discretion. Please ensure that you take out adequate insurance to cover this and any other eventuality as early as possible. You may have the opportunity to transfer your booking to another tour or another person, provided you are unavoidably prevented from coming on the tour. In this case, you will bear any extra costs that such changes may incur. There are no refunds once the trip is confirmed to go ahead and no refunds will be made for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features. Insurance: The purchase of trip cancellation insurance to cover any eventuality is strongly recommended. Steve Bird s Wildlife cannot accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non- refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour. Due to the vast choice and flexibility of flight deals and because we do not have an Air Travel Organizer s License we are unable to book flights for our customers. Please note that you may purchase flights from any reputable agent, but to help with this we have supplied here the contact details of one particular agent that we frequently deal with. Please contact Chris or Neil at FBCT 01634 563186 - ATOL Protected In order to comply with the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 and more importantly, to ensure your money remains protected all payments received by us are held in a separate client account where your money remains until the completion of the tour. Steve Bird s Wildlife Birding & Wildlife Tours, 5 Quarry Cottages, Plymouth, Devon, UK All Photos by Liew Weng Keong & Endemic Guides